3 teams shortlisted for Windsor-Detroit Bridge

The Windsor Detroit Bridge project includes a six-lane bridge, providing three Canada-bound lanes and three US-bound lanes over the Detroit River. Two bridge types were considered under the DRIC study – cable stayed and suspension. The bridge will have a clear span of 850 metres/2788 feet across the Detroit River with no piers in the water.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) has announced the Respondent Teams that will move forward in the Request for Proposals stage of the competitive public-private partnership procurement process to select a private-sector partner for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

Referred to as Short-Listed Respondents, these teams are:

 Legacy Link Partners

 Bridging North America

 CanAm Gateway Partners

(For a list of the bidding team members as of Jan. 20 2016, CLICK HERE)

Following the issuance of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on July 20, 2015, teams consisting of international and North American companies worked to prepare Responses demonstrating their experience and qualifications to deliver and finance large and complex infrastructure projects. On October 9, 2015, WDBA received six response submissions.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to be completed and in service in 2020. It will connect to the Herb Gray Parkway and Interstate 75

All six responses underwent rigorous, objective, consensus-based evaluations and were considered to be qualified. All the respondents were required to comply with all applicable laws and Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Integrity Framework. The RFQ evaluation, conducted by both public- and private-sector experts, was overseen by an independent fairness monitor who concluded that the evaluation was fair, open and transparent. The three highest scoring teams will be asked to respond to the Request for Proposals, to be issued later this year.

“With the Short-Listed Respondents named, WDBA is pleased to have concluded the first stage in the public-private partnership procurement process,” said Michael Cautillo, president and CEO of WDBA.

“Our team of dedicated staff, partners and consultants have worked diligently to implement a fair and transparent process that recognizes the size and scope of this unprecedented international project. We are in the process of finalizing the Request for Proposals which will be issued to the Short-Listed Respondents in the near term.”

More on the evaluation process

Evaluation was carried out by public- and private-sector experts. Each submission was evaluated and scored according to six evaluation categories:

1. Respondent team and approach to partnering, including experience with community benefits plans and engagement with Indigenous Peoples

2. Design

3. Construction, including administering sub-contracts and making timely payments to sub-contractors

4. Operation and maintenance

5. Tolling

6. Financial and financing information.